Shower curtain adapter



March 24, 1959 L. FOOTE SHOWER CURTAIN ADAPTER Filed July 12, 1957 90 INVENTOR.

Zm/w/w Fborf 3 .5 I BY vzfk/k yziiw tates e invention relates to an antibillowing shower curtain adapter. Y lt is an object of this invention to provide a'device for use "in combination with shower curtains to prevent the shower curtain from billowinginwardly during use of the shower.

"A still further object of the invention is to provide adevice for*moun'ting the shower curtain inwardly at the forward edge-portion s'o thatthe forward edge portion of the shower curtain lies in substantial juxtapositionwith the-front"wall of the showering area. "'Anotherobject of this invention is to provide ashower anti-billowing device of simple and economical constructio'nwhichmay be removably attached to conventional shower curtain mounting means. I i j" "Afeature andadvantage of this invention is that the device" may be r eadily installed on a'fshowerfeurt'ain mounting'rod without the necessity of altering the shower curtainor ro'd." e "'Another' object of this invention is to provide means incorporated with-the anti billowing device by which articles may be hung within the shower area. v

A further object-of this invention is to provide a 'novel means-for-lo'cking' the device against'riemoval from the conventional shower curtain rnountihg means. Other objects of the' present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to theaccompanying drawings" inewhichsimilar characters 'of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

" In the drawings: V I

Figil 'is a perspective view of the invention shown attach'ed to a conventional showercurtainmounting'roil.

Fig. 2 is a view of a modification of the invention shown in fragmentary portion adapted for mounting to slotted shower curtain supporting fixtures such' as conventionally mohnted on'thc'ceiling' adjacent 'theshower area. ""Fi'gl 3 is aview of a modification of theinventio'n shown in front elevation in which amounting rod is arranged to support'the embodiment of the-invention shown in 'Fig'.'1'.'

" Referring now to the drawings and with particular reference to Fig. 1- there is shown'a' preferred embodinient'of the invention'ad'apted for mounting on a shower curtain mounting rod 159 Rod lfiis conventionally'supportedon front-wall'17 from which projects a shower nozzle 20. Ashower curtain 21 is hung lay-conventional hooks 22 on rod' as indicated in the drawings. "An anti-billowing frame 25 is mounted on red 15 interiorly of curtain 21 and adjacent wall 17. Frame 25 is pivotallyxconnected to 'rod-llfa'toswing toward and away from the showering area so as to be positionable to pre-' vent the shower curtain from billowing inwardlyduring use of the shower.

In greatef'detail frame 25 comprises two hooks 2.8 and 28 arranged for removable pivotal mounting on rod 15. From the hooks are supported a rectangular frame member "29ghaving atop horizontal segment 31 attached to the dcpending end '32 of hooks Z8? and 28 and' a front vertical component 33 and a rear vertical-;con'iponent'fi t depending "from the ends of the horizontal atent.

' posed adjacentithe bottom of s egmentf3 9 whet "ice se en in sn aapara e nmen he b en sjo'f c lrs gm ns tan d Miamiiciii d b a e tom horizontal segment 35. A stiffener inemb'er 38 is m o d .sxt a f w nih n er ec s s a it's 31and34 and the intersection 0f segments 33 and toaddrigidityto frame 29.

A shower "curtain supporting frame 48 is piyotallyat; tached to vertical component 33I of frame 129 to supper: the "front end 21? off curtain 21. Frame" 49 is triangular in shape' having a vertical ."component. 39' adjacentj'the vertical component 33 'offrame 29 and'pfivotally' rnonn'ted thereto by loop hinges Aland 42. "Loop hinge 12 disthe h b r r s 19 sti f n 1 t us affstdi i j v' l tical' si1'ppo1 t for framef48 Frame 48 is further proj- 'hi ha li e haw erlsupbat i 'l v r'a h .5 mounted on th 'ettipi 1" v of segment .39'a'nd disposed iii alignment with the top 1 horizontal segment 31 of name "T j r is a arm b a go a me bs lfi one nected adjacent the outer extremity ofhoi izontal arm as $56 and'the depending end offseg m ent 39.

Frame" 48 is positionable so the' axis of f farne 48 is substantially normal tolframe J29 whereat arm '50" is disposed to 'supportthe'end portion 2 1 ojflthe shower cur tain 21in juxtaposition'withfrontjwall 17. [The weight of the end portion 21 "of 'culjtainzl th s tends" to pull arm 50 of frame 48 downwardly thence" forcingibotjtom segment of frame 29 o ltwardlyfthereby positioning curtain2Loutwardlyfrom*tlie" s howeringjarea. ""1; It'is thusreadily apparent'thatj device 25 ifectiifely counteracts the tendency'of thefshower'fcurtain to billow inwardly. i

7 It -is'- noted that the weight offend portion anbffih shower curtain acting "on lever "arm" 50 causes the latter to swing downwardly about afnl'crum definedby hooks 28 and 28 'sup'portedpivotally'fon 'rod'lS. This .ley rage movement, in turn", causes fra me29 to swin outwardly against the curtainiliofbiasthe" curtainagainst jacent and-parallel tosegment 34 thereto by mounting member-s73. The bottom'ofjframe 70 is formed bya segment 72 aligned withfsegmentBSQ Segments 71 and'72 are 'join'e'd by'adiagonalseginerit 751 mounted adjacenteach portion 75 and76 offsegments 7l and7'2 respectively. Frame member"70i's' heldwithfseg ment'72 inaxial alignmentwith'bottomfsegment'3515f] A triangular frame; 7 0 is; pivotally mount' verticalsegment '34 of' frame 29' topr o effective length'ofdevice' 25 at the bottom portion'j Frame '70 comprises "a vertical segment '71f'mountedad 1 d" vpfta l frame 29-by a 'sto'p meinber Sildurliirg operation 0 vice'25; Frame 70 'is""a'rr anged' to be reciprocallyinq with respect 'to frarne29 soas to disenga'ge'the" fr a fe'f lockingmeansiiflfrom engagement with bottom Segment 35 thus allowing frame 70 "to' swing inwardly wherein frame 70" is positioned to form-a mounting means by which garments or towels and'thelikemay drying when theshower is not in use..

.. Front hook 23? is arranged with a. downwardly dr pending leg 10 WhiQ ends substantiallyadjacent lever ar'1'n5 and spo .for @1 9 o Preve evi e.

from being removed from rod ls as long as frame ed adjaceiit' aaeff ire. extension of bottom segment 35 thus "lengthening the' be hung for disease inwa d y Po itiP Pd W 1 respect to. rans.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is provided another embodiment of the invention identical to the device 25 'hereinabove described in connection with Fig. 1 in which hook members 28 and 28 are replaced with mounting members adapted for mounting in an overhead track 90 in shower installations in which shower curtains 21 are suspended from overhead tracks 90 by reciprocally slidable mounting members. In this embodiment a clip member 94 formed of spring stock is mounted on opposite ends of top segment 31. I

In operation the expandable spring 94 is inserted within the overhead track or guide way 90 so the device 25 may be mounted in the track in much the same manner as the shower curtain.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is disclosed another modification of the invention, for mounting the embodiment of device 25 as shown in Fig. 1 on an overhead track such as shown in Fig. 2. An accessory attachment 105 is arranged with two expandable spring members 106 of the same type as clip member 94 of Fig. 2. The two spring members 106 are arranged in spaced apart relation to support a rod 107 from which hooks 28 and 28 may be hung as indicated in the drawings.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal rod from billowing towards the shower area the combination of: a frame member; means to mount pivotally said frame member on said rod juxtaposed the face of the shower curtain facing the shower area; a lever arm mounted on said frame to extend into the shower area; and weighted means mounted on said arm biasing said arm downwardly to force said frame to pivot towards the shower curtain.

2. In a device for preventing hanging shower curtains from billowing towards the shower area the combination of: a frame member; mounting means to mount said frame member proximate the top of the curtain and on the shower side thereof; said mounting means including pivoting means for movement of said frame about a horizontal axis towards and away from said shower area; an arm connected to said frame and projecting from said frame toward the shower area and means connecting a portion of said shower curtain on said arm to transmit weight of a portion of said curtain to said frame whereby the weight of the portion of the shower curtain on said arm forces said arm downwardly and swings said frame member outwardly from the shower area to restrict inward billowing of the shower curtain.

3. In a device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal rod from billowing inwardly towards the shower area the combination of: a frame; mounting means connected to said frame to mount said frame on the horizontal rod proximate the top of the curtain and on the shower side thereof; said mounting means pivotally connected with said horizontal rod for movement about a horizontal axis towards and away from the shower area; an arm mounted on said frame and extending into theshower area; and means to weight said arm to bias said frame to rotate away from the shower area.

4. In a device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal rod from billowing towards the shower area the combination of: a frame having first, second and third members; means connected to said first member for pivotally mounting said frame on the rod for movement toward and away from the shower area with said first frame member being disposed proximate the top of-the curtain and on the shower side thereof; said first frame having its longitudinal axis arranged in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal rod; said second member being pivotally mounted on said first member for swingable movement about a vertical axis and movable to an operable position substantially normal to the plane of said first member; weighted means comprising a portion of the shower curtain mounted in spaced relation to said first frame member on said second frame member while in the operable position to bias the frame to move away from the shower area to restrict inward billowing of the shower curtain; said third member being pivotally mounted for swingable movement about a vertical axis on said first member and movable in a first position whereat the plane of said first and third members are in coplanar relation and to a second position whereat the plane of said third member is normal to the plane of said first member; and releasable locking means mounted on said third member and engageable with said first member to lock said third member in the first position.

5. A device according to claim 4 and wherein said hook for mounting said frame on said shower curtain mounting means comprises; a rod, means for mounting said rod in a substantially horizontal position adjacent the shower curtain mounting means, and hook members attached to said first frame member and pivotally suspended from said rod.

6. In a device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal curtain mounting means from billowing inwardly towards the showering area the combination of: a frame; mounting means on said frame connecting the frame to the curtain mounting means for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis toward and away from the showering area; a first member carried by said frame in spaced parallelism below the curtain mounting means; a second member pivotally connected to said frame about a vertical axis for swingable movement into the showering area; and means carrying an end portion of the shower curtain on said second member.

7. A device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal rod from billowing toward the shower area the combination of: a frame member depending from said rod; mounting means pivotally mounting said frame member for swingable movement about a horizontal axis on said horizontal rod toward and away from the shower area; said frame having a first member below said mounting means in spaced parallel relation with the horizon tal rod, and a second member having a first end mounted between said mounting means and first member and a length extending in a direction normal to said first member and into the shower area; and weighted means carried by said second member on the length adjacent the second end of said second member.

8. A device for preventing shower curtains hung from a horizontal rod from billowing toward the shower area the combination of: a frame, said frame having first and second components disposed in substantially normal relationship with respect to each other; means connected to said first component pivotally mounting said frame on said rod to depend therefrom in parallelism with said rod and rotatable about a horizontal axis for movement toward and away from the shower area with said second component extending inwardly into the showering area; said first component disposed against a portion of the shower area facing face of the shower curtain, and means supporting a portion of said shower curtain on a portion of said second component.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,648 Byrne May 20, 1951 2,554,106 Heubeck May 22, 1951 2,573,985 Porter Nov. 6, 1951 2,774,974 Zaloga Dec. 25, 1956 2,778,030 Goche Jan. 22, 1957 

